Partition or wall construction



March l5, 932. 5 SNHLEY, JR 1,849,852

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PARTITION 0R WALL CONSTRUCTI'ON Filed Feb. l2, 1950 March l5, 1932.

lNvr-:N-roR ATTORNEYJ Patented Mar. l5, L1932 UNITED STATES PATENT l OFFICE BAIUEL SMILEY, JB., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GLOBE-WEBNICXE COI- PANY, F NOBWOOD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO PARTITION 0B WALL CONSTRUCTION Application med February 12, 1930. Serial No. 427,777.

333,588, filed January 19, 1929 is also directed to a partition or wall construction, relating particularly to the features of construction and connection of a sectional pilaster or post and metal fabricated wall sections for convenient assembly. The presentA application discloses and claims a portion of matterl disclosed in the above entitled application but not claimed, and also additional features of improvement.

l A partition of the nature incorporating the present improvements provides, in general, spaced posts 'or pilasters and intermediate wall sections, the intermediate wall section constituted by panels which are horizontally joined and whlch may be of glass, metal,- liber or any other suitable mater1a1, the material of the panel depending on the particular need, as for instance, a partition may comprise a4 lower metal panel and glass panels extending to the ceiling. The connection of the partition to the floor is embellished by a baseboard which is disposed in a base molding or fioor strip. Cornices may be provided to finish the connection to the ceiling or to embellish the upper edge of the partition when it does not extend entirely to the ceil- It is extremely important in the fabrication of the wall sections that the various panels thereof be connected eiiiciently without destroying the beauty of the wall. It follows that the coupling or connecting devices for the various panels of the sections and the connections of the sections to the pilasters should be entirely concealed since any extraneous fastening means would interfere with the continuity of the molding and be obtrusive both physically and eestheti-- call It?r is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved partition construction in which the panels of the intermediate wall sections are joined and efficiently fitted together by means of hidden coupling or lock devices. The object is to further provide that the lock devices act as wedges or struts within adjoining frames to align the walls of the frame and provide a smooth flush outer surface for the frames and to further rovide that the coupling devices form a tig t seam between the panel frames.

It is also provided that the attaching means extending throughout the horizontal length of the panel and connecting the adjacent panels are the elements by means of which the panels are attached to the posts and that these devices function as draw bars between the respective posts or pilasters for firmly connecting the posts and wall sections.

Another object is to provide interlitted frames for the respective adjoining panels, which frames are quickly fitted together and aligned with their faces Hush prior to introduction of the coupling element.

Another object is to provide improved coupling means for attaching the respective wall sections to the pilasters or posts whereby the partition is thoroughly braced.

Another object is to provide a baseboard for the lowermost panel which is of improved fabrication and which is designed to fit neatly within a ioor strip.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully set forth in a description of the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wall fabricated of metal parts, the various elements thereof as the posts, panels and baseboard of the construction being secured together by the connecting devices of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure 1, detailing the device for connecting the panels of the wall sections and for bracing the wall structure at the seams.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1, detailing another form of device for connecting the panels.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken vertically and longitudinally through a post of the wall for illustrating the connection of a wall section to the post.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5, Figure 4, illustrating the attachment of the baseboard to the lower panel and the mounting of the wall in the base molding or floor strip.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the panel coupling strut or wall brace illustrated .in Figure 2, this view illustrating the devlce separated from the structure, the dcv1ce b eing in the form of a double hook slip strip slidable interiorly of the joined panel edges for cooperation with the flange edges thereof to efliciently couple the same together.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another form of connectmg device or strut which is designed to cooperate with the flanges of adoining panel edges which are formed and related in a manner varied from those in the first form of coupling means.

- Figure 8 is a sectional view taken'on line 8 8, Figure 4, showing the post in transverse ction and further illustratmg the means for rawng the sections tightly against the posts.

l Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9 9, Figure 8, illustrating the relation of the baseboard to the post or pilaster.

A metal fabricated partition or wall (see Figure 1) including the features herein concerned, comprises in general the pilasters which may be sectional, the wall sections between the pilasters constituted by panels 31 horizontally joined in this instance, baseboards 32 attached to the lower edges of the respective wall sections, molding or floor strips 33 extending along the lower edge of the entire partition irrespective of the pilasters, and cornices 34 extended along the upper edge of the partition irrespective of the location of the pilasters or posts. A door 35 is included, the frame of which is mounted between and directly upon close spaced posts.

The various hidden devices for connecting the described parts together, the cooperative relation of the adjoining edges of the parts and the structure of the parts to achieve rigidity and embellishment when assembled are the primary features which will be hereinafter described in detail.

The panels 31 may be of glass, metal, fiber composition pressed between sheets of metal, or any other suitable material. These panels are mounted in molding or frame strips attached along the respective edges of the panels. The horizontal edges as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 are entered into grooves 38 of metal strips or channels 39. These frame strips 39 are formed of sheet metal to provide the depressions -or grooves 38 for containing the panel edges and artistically molded reveals 40 extending to straight side walls 41.

The edges of the side walls are bent inwardly and reversely, the flanges 42 thus forl'ned being spaced from the wall to provide interiorly disposed longitudinal hook edges (see Figure 2). The bights of the turned edges of adjoining strips or frame lcircular depressions 44a formed along its longitudinal margins, these depressions opposlngly related in the assembled lock strip. The side edges 45 of the plates are spaced apart a distance equal to two thicknesses of the metal and the reverse bends or hookl flanges 42 of the frame pieces are of a length whereby the terminal edges 458l of the flanges 42 engage the bottoms of the depressions 44 when the lock strip is slipped into position and the spaced edges 45 of the lock strip engage the bottoms of the reverse bends. The lock strip, therefore, is a tight sliding fit over and along the molding hook flanges.

The outer flanges of the lock strip formed by the depressions engage against the side walls 41 and therefore align these walls of the frames so that the frames are always locked in flush relation. The lock or coupling strip 43 may be referred to as having slotted edges or a hollow slotted bead at each longitudinal edge thereof, the walls of the slots engaging the respective inner corners of the inwardly turned portion of the hook flanges 42. If the walls 41 of the channel frames are collapsed or depressed prior to assembly, the lock strip or strut acts as a wedge to spread the adjoining walls simultaneously outward to present an even face, to brace the walls in this position and to clamp the panel frames together.

In the event that it is necessary to replace the panels after the wall is erected, as in the case of broken glass, means is provided for conveniently removing the panels at this time. A filler of some sort which may be fiber encases the edges of the glass. This filler fits in the grooves or channels 38 previously described. In those instances where the glass is mounted for quick removal, the groove in the molding strip is a right angled groove 46, rather than a channel, thereby providing lateral clearance. An angle piece 47 is secured by welding in a nested position within the right angled groove and provides a semicircular depression 48 in its margin facing the base wall of the right angled groove.

A removable reveal 49 substantially corresponding in shape to the reveal formed integrally in the frame strip provides a semicircular depression 50 in an inwardly extending flange, this depression corresponding to and registrable with the first depression,

Vbeing engageable thereunder between the angle piece and the an le groove.

e attaching angle has its plaln flange 51 spot welded to the main framepiece and its depression containing flange 1s ,capable of being sprung outwardly when the reveal piece 49 is snapped into position thereunder. The removable reveal provides an inwardly turned flange 49 abuttmg the filler along the glass edge.

As illustrated in Figure 3, a slightly varied form of connection is provided. In this instance the edges of a panel frame strip 52 are turned inwardly toward each other and thence form flanges 53 extending outwardly instead of inwardly as in the first form. The adjacent frame 54 is formed in the same manner as the ones 39-39 previously described so that the parallel flanges of the adjacent frames 52, 54, extend in engagement. The outwardly extending flanges 53 of the frame strip 52 are straddled by the flanges 55 of the adjacent strip 54. This engagement of flanges accurately seats the frames together with their faces flush prior to insertion of a coupling strip and lateral displacement is prevented without the assistance of the coupling strip or strut.

The lock strip 56 used in this instance is also formed of two plates 57, 58 spot welded together. Both plates are of channel form, one, namely 57, of shallow depth and the other 58 of considerable depth. The latter provides outwardly turned flanges 59 and is of less general width than the first piece 57, thus providing a space at each side thereof between the respective side flanges of the channels for receiving the flanges of the frame strips. The side ribs of the wide chan- {base wall of the right nel 57 engage the outer sid-es of the flanges,

of the frame and the flanges 59 of the narrow channel extend under the assembled hook flanges of the frames to preventl spreading of the panels.

As shown in Figure 4, the lock strips are secured to the pilasters or posts by means of hook bolts 60. The vertically disposed frame pieces 61 are of the same width as the vertical channels 62a formed in the sections 62 of the posts and fit therein (see Figure 8). The vertical frame pieces 61 provide grooves 38. in which the panel edges are disposed and are each in the general form of a channel, facing inwardly as positioned in the groove 62 of the post section 62 (see Figure 9). The vertical frame pieces 61 extend along the entire post length in a single piece, the horizontal frame pieces being interfitted therein by means of continuing side walls 41, the ends of the side walls fitting in slots 63 in the vertical pieces. The hook ends of the bolts 60 engage in apertures 64 at each end of the strips 43 or 56 and the screw-threaded end of the bolts pass through keyhole openings 65 in the base wall of the channels of the post sections instance. The bolts pass through slots 65* v in the frame pieces 61, of sufficient 1ength to receive the hook ends of the bolts. As shown 1n Figures 4 and 8, the coupling strips 43, 56,

are shorter than the width `of the panels or.

wall sections. Tightening the bolts 60 therefore draws the stri s between the ost sections and the strips iunction as draw ars and braces for firmly seating the panel frames in the channels of the post sections. Therefore, the strips 43 or 56 function transversely as struts and lock for securing the panels together and longitudinally as drawbars or braces between the posts.

Cover plates 62b (see Figure 8) are snapped into position to cover the spaces between the respective post sections at each side of the post, these plates having hook flanges engaging corresponding flanges opposingly disposed on the respective post sections. The means for joining the post sections and the construction of the cover lates are disclosed and claimed in the copendmg application Serial No. 335,588.

The baseboard 32 is attached to the lower panel by means of a lock strip of the form 56 heretofore described (see Figure 5) and provides side walls formed of separate plates 67 and spaced apart slightly greater than the frame of the panel, the lower ends of the plates constituting the respective sides thereof shouldered, as at 68, and widened to be disposed within the channel floor strip 33, this strip being continuous along the lower edge of the partiti-on. The two pieces of the baseboard are held together at the ends by connector plates 69 riveted or welded to and between the spaced plates. These connector plates are of channel form and fit or nest over the vertical frame pieces 61 (see Figure 9).

The longitudinal lower edges of the baseboard plates are oined by welding. The inwardly turned lower flanges 70-70 rise slightly to a central meeting point and are thence flan ed downwardly, these latter flanges 71- 1 abutting and providing the engagement for welding. As shown in Figure 5, the rising base flanges place the welded flanges in a depression so that there are no protruding parts to interfere with the mounting of the partition in the channel strip 33.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A coupling device for securing wall panels together comprising, channel frame sections extending along the edges of adjoining panels, said channel frame sections having abutting open sides, each of said channel frame sections having inwardly reversely formed hook flanges along the respective edges of the adjacent open sides thereof, and a coupling strut having opposing hook flanges formed along each its edges for engaging the respective reversely turned adjacent flanges of the channel frame sections. 2. In a device of the class described, a pair vof frame strips each having spaced longitudinally disposed and inwardly turned hook flanges formed thereon, said flanges of the respective strips abutting, a slip strip having opposing hook flanges formed along each edge thereof, said opposing hook flanges connecting the abutting hook flanges of the frame strips when slipped longitudianlly into position thereon.

3. In a wall construction, spaced posts, horizontally joined wall panels extending between said posts, a coupling strip extending along the horizontal edges of the panels and joining said panels, said coupling strip of less length than the space between the posts, and draw bolts connecting the respective end of the strip to the posts whereby tightening of the draw bolts draws the coupling strip between the posts and clamps the wall panels between the posts.

4. In a wall construction, spaced posts having longitudinal channels in their opposing P faces, wall panels dis osed between said posts, a frame surroun ing each panel, said panel frames joined along the horizontal abutting edges and having the vertical edges disposed within the channels, the horizontal length of each frame of channel construction and providing spaced hook flanges therewithin, a coupling strip inserted between the respective channel lengths, said strip providing opposing hook flanges at each side for cooperation with abutting reversely turned hook flanges of the respective channel frames, and means for drawing the coupling strip between the posts.

5. A coupling device for securing wall panels together, comprising, frames of channel form extending along the adjoining edges of the panels, each of said frames having inwardly bent edges along the respective sides thereof, the inwardly bent edges of the respective frames abutting, and a coupling 'strut having a pair of opposing hook flanges formed along each of its respective edges, each pair of hook flanges connecting abutting inwardly bent edges of the frames.

6. In a device of the class described, a pair of channel frame strips each having an open lside and inwardly turned hook flanges formed along the respective edges thereof, the turned hook flanges of the respective channel frame strips abutting, a coupling strip having opposing hook flanges formed along each edge thereof, said strip longitudinally insertable into the joined channel frame strips, and said opposing hook flanges of the coupling strip connecting the abutting hook flanges of the frame strips.

7. A connection for panels of a wall, comprising, panel frame channel strips having o en sides opposite to the panel receiving e ges thereo the respective edges of the open sides bent inwardly and reversely to form longitudinal hook ed es, the bends of the adjacent frame strips isposed in abutment, and a slip strip insertable into the ends of said panel frame channel strips for clamping the abutting hook edges together.

' 8. A coupling device for panels, comprising, channel frame strips having open sides, the edges of each strip turned inwardly and lying parallel to and against the corresponding edges of the adjoining strip, a coupling strut having hook edges disposed in the inner corners of the inwardly turned edges for clamping the channel frame strips together and spreading and bracing the Arespective joined sides thereof.

9. In a connection of the class described, channel frame pieces having opposing open sides, inwardly turned flanges on the respective edges of said pieces, the adjoining flanges of the respective channel frame pieces disposed in parallelism, a slip strip slidable longitudinally into the opposing frame ieces, said strip having hollow beads along lts longitudinal edges, and said beads having slots therein engaging about said parallel flanges to clamp the same together, said strip transversely engaging and spreading the walls of the frame pieces.

10. A means for couplin panels, comprising, channel frame len'gthsliaving open sides opposingly related, inwardly turned flan es on each opposing edge of the frame lengt s, and a combined strut and brace bar having pockets formed along its longitudinal edges engaging the co-related flanges of the respective frame lengths, said bar slidable into position longitudinally of the joint of the channel frame lengths.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

SAMUEL SMILEY, JR. 

